Spiritual versus Religious

[Philip James]

The practice of the Christian religion, is the power of the Holy Spirit working in us and through us as we DO :

Love God with all our hearts and all our souls!

And:

Love one another.

Peace!

 

[ScottA]

What does the verse mean,Scott. You seem to be talking around it

What I have pointed to is collaboration of the meaning of the verse. Which was some of James' advice on fulfilling the great commission, to go and "make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded."

 

[Waiting on him]

It’s very obvious that religion doesn’t unify, it divides. You need look no further than this forum.
The Spirit of God unifies his body.

 

[ScottA]

Fair enough. I just think it is a false dichotomy. Religion and spirituality go together like faith and works. Religion keeps us grounded and orthodox - spirituality is the relationship between God and neighbor. Both are equally important - it is almost a Martha and Mary situation. Jesus wasn’t condemning Martha, he was justifying Mary.

If religion is not pointing to God, it is false.
I agree that God’s presence and handy work is visible everywhere
In hindsight

The problem is, you still seem to present them as being equally perfect and from God. That just simply isn't true, and to give the impression that a babe can trust religion as they can trust God himself...requires serious clarification. Which, then is indeed comparable to works...a lot of which are completely phony and not the result of God's own spirit at work.

 

[aspen]

It’s very obvious that religion doesn’t unify, it divides. You need look no further than this forum.
The Spirit of God unifies his body.

Spirituality, by itself, divides, as well.

1. It require vulnerability to talk about spirituality, which is one of the reasons people stick to doctrinal fights

2. We do not have the language to talk about it without religion

3. Talking about spirituality without doctrine separates you from tribal Christianity and invites Christians to grill each other with doctrinal questions about whether they are saved or not - whether they actually belong to the tribe.

 

[Waiting on him]

Isn’t it time to put off the former conversation?

 

[aspen]

The problem is, you still seem to present them as being equally perfect and from God. That just simply isn't true, and to give the impression that a babe can trust religion as they can trust God himself...requires serious clarification. Which, then is indeed comparable to works...a lot of which are completely phony and not the result of God's own spirit at work.

People often start out ‘faking it until they make it’. Baby Christians need milk, as Paul talks about.

 

[aspen]

Isn’t it time to put off the former conversation?

Huh?

 

[ScottA]

Spirituality, by itself, divides, as well.

1. It require vulnerability to talk about spirituality, which is one of the reasons people stick to doctrinal fights

2. We do not have the language to talk about it without religion

3. Talking about spirituality without doctrine separates you from tribal Christianity and invites Christians to grill each other with doctrinal questions about whether they are saved or not - whether they actually belong to the tribe.

I want to compliment you in that explanation...because it can be said of both religion and spirituality. Both can be pure and of God, and both can be far from Him.

 

[aspen]

I want to compliment you in that explanation...because it can be said of both religion and spirituality. Both can be pure and of God, and both can be far from Him.

Yes, I think we have come to a new understanding - I appreciate the conversation

 

[ScottA]

People often start out ‘faking it until they make it’. Baby Christians need milk, as Paul talks about.

I just hope that we can clearly not be sending seekers and babes to wolves in sheep's clothing in the name of "religion."

 

[aspen]

I just hope that we can clearly not be sending seekers and babes to wolves in sheep's clothing in the name of "religion."

That would be unfortunate

 

[Waiting on him]

A house divided will not stand

 

[aspen]

The practice of the Christian religion, is the power of the Holy Spirit working in us and through us as we DO :

Love God with all our hearts and all our souls!

And:

Love one another.

Peace!

I agree. If we were talking about running a marathon - religion is the necessary equipment to win the race. It may not be exciting to talk about/spend time acquiring proper shoes, but without them, the runner could trip, fall, sustain an injury or get slowed down. And yes, some runners get obsessed with talking about equipment.....they become legalistic in a sense. But, serious runners know that shoes and other equipment will not win races....or even guarantee a finish.

 

[ScottA]

A house divided will not stand

So glad that a house with two wings, many [different] members and mansions, and a cornerstone whom is the Lord, weathers all!

 

[Waiting on him]

There’s nothing more divided than the church universal is right now

 

[Waiting on him]

So glad that a house with two wings, many [different] members and mansions, and a cornerstone whom is the Lord, weathers all!

When I think of religion, I think of the Sadducees and Pharisees, and how divided they were Jesus knew full well how to take the focus off of him all he had to do was mention The resurrection

 

[aspen]

There’s nothing more divided than the church universal is right now

I am not sure about that...
Unfortunately, what I am seeing is a strong resistance towards unity.
Many Christians view reconciliation between denominations as a threat.
Conspiracy theories are superstitious and destructive, whether religious or political.

IMO, it is absurd to promote nationalism, denominationalism and tribalism as a solution to unity, supposedly orchestrated by Satan. Anyone who believes Satan is that stupid is woefully underestimating him. He doesn’t have to work that hard to fool the sheep! All he has to do is play into our superstitious nature and let us conspire against God in the name of God. Easy-peasey

 

[Waiting on him]

I am not sure about that...
Unfortunately, what I am seeing is a strong resistance towards unity.
Many Christians view reconciliation between denominations as a threat.
Conspiracy theories are superstitious and destructive, whether religious or political.

IMO, it is absurd to promote nationalism, denominationalism and tribalism as a solution to unity, supposedly orchestrated by Satan. Anyone who believes Satan is that stupid is woefully underestimating him. He doesn’t have to work that hard to fool the sheep! All he has to do is play into our superstitious nature and let us conspire against God in the name of God. Easy-peasey

The wolves are already among us.

 

[aspen]

When I think of religion, I think of the Sadducees and Pharisees, and how divided they were Jesus knew full well how to take the focus off of him all he had to do was mention The resurrection

The Pharisees and the Sadducees were perfect examples of religion without spirituality and the opposite.

Instead of infusing spirituality into the Temple religion which was mechanical and legalistic, the Sadducees stripped away the doctrine they didn’t like.